Flush-valve-operating means for closets.



L. LINKS & R. 3.. IRWIN. FLUSH VALVE OPERATING MEANS FOR GL0SET$ APPLIQATION FILED 001. 24, 1908.

937,6 1 9, Patented Oct. 19 1909.-

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LEO LINKS AND RALPH E. IRWIN, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLUSH-VALVE-OPERATING MEANS FOR CLOSETS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LEO LINKS and RALPH E. IRWIN, citizens of the United States, residing at Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flush-Valve-Operating Means for Closets, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved means for actuating the flushing devices that are commonly found in water closets, and the object of the invention is the provision of a flush valve operating means which is mounted either upon or adjacent the floor and which can be operated by the foot.

The invention further contemplates a device of this character which is inexpensive in its construction and is peculiarly constructed so as to successfully withstand the rough usage to which such devices are subjected.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a flush valve operating device embodying the invention, Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modification, and, Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the device.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the embodiment of the invention illustrated on the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a base which can be secured either to the floor, a pedestal upon the floor, or under the floor as may be found desirable. Projecting upwardly from opposite longitudinal edges of the base near one end thereof, is a pair of standards 2 and projecting upwardly from the edges of the base near the opposite end thereof is a second pair of standards 3, the standards 2 being somewhat higher than the standards 3..

In the preferred construction both the base and the standards are stamped from a single piece of sheet material, the standards being bent upwardly after the blank has been formed and the base being provided with a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 24, 1908.

Patented Oct. 19, E999.

Serial No. 459,357.

number of openings designed to receive screws or similar fastening members for securing it to a support.

A lever a is pivoted between its ends upon a pin 5 connecting the standards 2, the outer end of the lever being connected to a chain or cable 6 which extends upwardly and has an operative connection with the flushing device, while the inner end of the lever is enlarged at 4' This enlarged portion 4 is thicker than the body portion of the lever so as to project laterally upon both Sides thereof, is flattened upon its sides, and is substantially circular in shape. A second lever 7 is pivotally mounted between its ends upon a pin 8 connecting the second pair of standards 3 and is located at a lower elevation than the lever 4. The outer end of the lever 7 is designed to have pressure applied thereto for actuating the flushing device and may be flattened as indicated at 7 to form a treadle. The inner end of the lever 7 is disposed at a slight angle to the outer end and terminates in an enlargement 7 which is located under the enlargment 4 of the lever 4 and normally bears frictionally against the curved edge thereof. The enlargment 7 like the enlargement 4*, is thicker than the body portion of the lever 7, is flattened upon its sides and is substantially circular in shape. These enlarged inner ends of the levers constitute weights for normally counter-balancing the outer ends of the levers so that the levers normally remain in an inoperative position without causing any tension in the chain 6. However, as soon as pressure is applied to the treadle 7 the two levers are swung about their pivot pins and a pull is exerted upon the chain 6 to actuate the flushing device, the levers again falling into an inoperative position as soon as this pressure is released. At this point attention may be directed to the fact that as shown on the drawings washer members 9 are placed upon the pins 5 and 8 upon opposite sides of the levers so that the levers are held against lateral movement and the enlarged ends thereof are always retained in cooperative relation to each other. When the device is placed under the floor as indicated in Fig. 2, it is necessary to employ a plunger 10 to engage the enlarged end of the lever 7 the said plunger being held in an elevated position by means of a spring and the upper end of the plunger projecting above the floor and terminating in a suitable head adapted to be operated upon by the foot when it is desired to operate the flushing device.

For the purpose of limiting the downward movement of the inner arm of the lever, an upright stop arm 11 is utilized, the said stop arm being integral with and projecting upwardly from one end of the bar 12 which rests upon the base 1 and is secured between the standards 3.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A device as specified comprising a base, a support mounted at one end of said base, a lever fulcrumed intermediately in said support, a treadle formed on the outer end of said lever, a rounded bearing surface formed on the inner end of said lever, a stop carried by said base and engaged against the under face of said lever to limit the downward movement thereof, a support positioned on the opposite end of said base, a short lever fulcrumed intermediate in said second support, the outer extremity of said lever adapted to be connected to a. flush valve, and a rounded bearing surface formed upon the inner extremity of said short lever for engagement with the rounded surface formed on said first lever.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

LEO LINKS. RALPH E. IRWVIN. Witnesses A. J. TINKER, C. B. LEWIS.

L. s. [n s.] 

